China's tech giant Baidu eyes Europe for Robotaxi launch: WSJ
A driverless car by Apollo Go, Baidu's robotaxi service, drives past another Apollo Go robotaxi parked on the side of a road, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China July 19, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS
Chinese tech giant Baidu is preparing to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, in Europe, with Switzerland identified as the first potential destination, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
Baidu is reportedly in early-stage discussions with Swiss public transport operator PostAuto to introduce its driverless taxi service in Switzerland.
The move marks the company’s first push into the European market as part of its broader global expansion strategy in autonomous mobility.
Sources cited by the WSJ said Baidu plans to establish a local entity in Switzerland within the next few months and intends to begin testing the Apollo Go technology by the end of 2025.
The robotaxi service, already operational in over a dozen Chinese cities, features the largest autonomous fleet in Wuhan, central China, with over 400 vehicles.
However, Swiss Post, PostAuto’s parent company, told Reuters in a statement that there is “currently no partnership or cooperation between PostAuto or Swiss Post and Baidu or any other technology provider.”
The company added that it is exploring future mobility options to meet evolving customer needs.
The WSJ report also mentioned that Baidu has plans to bring Apollo Go to Turkey in the near future.
Apollo Go represents Baidu’s flagship entry into the driverless transportation space, as the company competes with global players like Waymo, Tesla, and Cruise in the autonomous vehicle market.
Baidu has not responded to media requests for comments regarding its European expansion.